A joint work requires that each author contribute copyrightable expression and that all intend the contributions to merge. Joint owners may each license non-exclusively subject to a duty to account.
Intent at the time of creation controls.
Alternative Names:
Joint Work|Co-Authorship
Why it Matters?
Each joint owner may license the entire work non-exclusively without the others' consent, subject only to accounting for profits, which means a co-owner cannot prevent exploitation they oppose and disputes over use are resolved through accounting rather than injunction. Contributions of ideas, direction, or funding without copyrightable expression do not create joint authorship, which defeats most claims by collaborators and producers.
Frequently Confused with
Related terms
Frequently asked questions
Can one joint owner block exploitation?
What defeats most joint authorship claims?
